NST Joyful July

abundant1972

Evening everyone

The last few days I have been grateful for:

1. A kind gift from my parents
2. Time spent with a spiritual friend
3. For having options in life and the freedom to choose

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were NSDs = 13 total
Today was a spend day

I was really fortunate to receive a gift from my family, and together with what I have saved have cleared my car deposit I had put on a card. I still have a little left and am going to keep it saved up for now. Thank you Mum & Dad.

The last few days I have been thinking of change. Changes are happening at work - the team is changing... and my mind has been wandering back home, up north. I have seen a job advert and am in two minds. Something says I should take the opportunity - in many ways I could have more of a social life and be near family. That said - where I live now is beautiful, and I have the best gym, and my job is petty good. I don't hate anything about my life - but part of me is unfulfilled. It is impossible to meet another guy locally (a tiny gay population where everyone knows everyone) and I keep thinking if I don't move soon I never will. What to do...? I'm going to think on it over the next few days and have a think.

Otherwise, aside from that feeling I'm great. Gym going well - on track with diet, and looking like I am toning up more. Spiritual practice slipped a little - and ironically it's probably what I need most right now - so I'm going to get back on it.

Hugs all

PlaysNicely

:wave:

Evening! Ooops, unable to get on here last night so double update coming up ...

1) NSD - yesterday yes, today no as we both have superbusy day tomorrow and won't be able to hit the market for cheap veg, so OH is doing small L*dl shop for veg as he's in town this evening, so NSDs 12 / 16.

2) Frugal food shopping: still within budget and £6 plus shrapnel left. Have spent the £6 stocking up on laundry and household cleaning items, all on offer at local C00p; shrapnel into 365 in 365 pot. OH has gone off with the coming week's £35 budget (due tomorrow as we run ours Thurs a.m. to Weds eve). as it makes sense for him to do it tonight as he's close to the cheapest supermarket around. No unbudgeted food spends so far this month.

3) [STRIKE]Try to up my own income in some way (legally of course)! [/STRIKE]Achieved - 2 extra days this week as well.

4) My NST health goal: 10,000 steps a day (as total of 70,000 across a week)!
Yesterday: 9625; today only 3,760 as I've had a busy but not walking kind of day! Need to get onto this tomorrow! Total so far this week 454,560 / 70,000,

5) No FleaBay shopping for the whole month - achieved today & yestersday so 18 / 31 achieved, 1 breadbin shaped glitch!

6) Frugal focus: sourcing instead of spending:
Remaining work in progress ...
* Valance in progress - one panel hemmed, still needs sewing to base (weekend job now)!
* Doggy glove puppet in progress. ... just sewing up to do!

Simple pleasures:
Helping out family.
The scent of the garden after the rain (apologies for this to anyone who's had flooding though)
Getting paid at last from a client who's been a bit cheeky-late!

Hope everyone's having a great evening, PN x

lcc86

Dear me I keep forgetting to post!

Have finally got over the migraine (touch wood), still can't get over how simple and effective the aspirin has been yesterday was a NSD and a healthy food day too. No exercise as had a meeting straight after work with the other freeholders from our building to decide how to spend our money next year. Very productive, but a bit unnerving as there's a chance we need a new roof so it's potentially going to get very expensive. Although being able to split it six ways helps tremendously.

Bit disappointed at the timing though, I was planning to start my MA in October, and had just been finalising the financial side of things. My plan was to put the cost of the first module on a 0% cc for 2 years and pay it off, then decide what to do with the second module (part time study). It would've ended up being about £80 a month, but I need to know how much the roof will cost first. It might mean I have to delay it another year, which is disappointing but not the end of the world I suppose. Hopefully there's a way to do both. I do have savings for housey stuff, but don't want to completely deplete that pot. Where's that money tree when you need it eh

Toni'sfriend

The washing's all done and most of the ironing. The bedding's all changed and took the opportunity to tidy the underneath the kitchen sink cupboard. Dinner's ready for tonight (pork and pineapple).
Today's plan is a walk through the park to LIdl (that's the long way) to buy some nice bread to have with the smoked salmon in the fridge for lunch and then finish the ironing. I need to start making a list of things to do, etc again. Slowly getting back to normal. Sorry that I've been so self absorbed over the last week.
Hugs to anyone who needs them.

thriftylass

Hello,

two more sleeps to the holiday. But we're only going away for a week. Always seems such a big built up to it and then it's over in a flash.

Phoned vet and insurance. It's been three weeks!!! and they haven't even sent the claim to the insurance yet. Next time we'll just pay the vet the excess and he can claim his own fees.

DH is out for dinner tonight and I will loose an SFD. Kids have been asking for baked beans for ages, so we'll have them with sausages from the freezer. And I might print my aunt some pictures of the kids.

Will give the house a wee pre-hol clean and deal with the last washing, look out ferry tickets etc.

Swim and freezer lunch today.

mothernerd

Progress not perfection:)

mothernerd

Today's inspiration is a bit of a cheat, it's the tagline from one of the diaries on here (I always write down the ones I love). Just woke up (at 9.30) but was still cutting and sticking at 3.30 and fell asleep several times 'tidying up' - just the chaos I had created since I got home, the rest is still there.

Came across a quote in my old diary -"Your house is a mirror that reflects what is going on in your life". So that's me stuffed.

So had pills but not yet eaten and it's going to have to be a slow, gentle day. Good start as had a text message to say best buddy was needed to help in the charity shop so that simplifies things.

Right, feed myself, have a bath, gather stuff and go to mum's.

I am grateful for all the flowers, leaves and creatures I saw yesterday on the canal bank (except the nettles), for last night's cooling rain, for gifted magazines, for co-operation.

thriftylass

Today's FW email was definitely food for thought for me (I'm on number 18 the treat one). I need my treats. The cider on a Friday, a sweetie here, a packet of crisps there. I mean this culture starts early with reward charts for potty training etc and is the obviously hard to break. I guess the idea would be to still treat yourself but non-commercially (bath, me time, cup of hotchoc). Also this paragraph:

"The danger is when we start to experience life as one interminable slog after another–an incessant displeasure with our daily routine, pepped up only by the occasional treat." (SOURCE frugal woods website)

This is so me. I find it hard to enjoy the slog of work only then to come home to the dishes, screaming kids etc. I guess it's a mindset I need to work harder on. Ideally one day I'd like to work part time and enjoy life more while still doing productive things like growing my own veg, crafting etc.

apple_muncher

Oh 'eck. If my life mirrors my house, then I too am in trouble...!

Today I am grateful for seing the dr promptly, for getting referred straight away for an xray on my toe, for said xray being done sooo quickly, for dd going into school despite a rather shaky start to the day, for an adventure up to liddle (okay, but not good enough to repeat), for getting some sewing done, for the vivid pink phlox in the front garden, for catching a mum in the playground to give her a bunny for her baby (he was 8 weeks early - eek! - but is doing okay), for a fresh day, for a happy dd.

lcc86

Today wasn't a NSD as I paid for a trip to the gym. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Other than that I feel like today was a positive one overall, got a lot of work done, and I also went through my finances with a fine toothed comb for the next few months. It's looking okay, I always look on the negative but need to look at the positives more!